Glossary

TERM DEFINITION
Adolescent Fertility Rate The age-specific fertility rate for females ages 15-19, which is expressed as number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
Adult Sex Ratio A ratio comparing the number of men to women in a population.

AIDS

 

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A disease of the body's immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A person who tests positive for HIV is considered to have progressed to AIDS when a laboratory test shows that his or her immune system is severely weakened by the virus or when he or she develops at least one of about 25 different opportunistic infections -- diseases that might not affect a person with a normal immune system but that take advantage of damaged immune systems. People who have not had one of these opportunistic infections, but whose immune system is severely damaged, are also considered to have progressed to an AIDS diagnosis.
Antiretroviral (ARV) Drugs Drugs that inhibit the replication of HIV. When antiretroviral drugs are given in combination, HIV replication and immune deterioration can be delayed, and survival and quality of life improved.
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Refers to a range of treatments that includes antiretroviral (ARV) medications. The drugs that are used in the treatment of HIV, a retrovirus, are designed to interfere with the virus' ability to replicate itself and, therefore, slow the progression of the disease. ART consists of the use of at least three antiretroviral drugs to maximally suppress HIV, the virus, and stop or slow the progression of HIV disease.

Avian Flu

Avian influenza, or "bird flu" is an infectious disease of animals (usually birds, and less commonly pigs) caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. Transmission to humans is rare, but there is recent cause for concern. In mid-2003, the largest and most severe avian flu outbreak in history began in South-east Asia, caused by a sub-type of the virus called H5N1 and resulting in widespread transmission to poultry and some documented transmission to humans. Transmission of H5N1 to humans is of particular concern because it mutates rapidly and may therefore change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and more easily spread. In addition, unlike normal seasonal influenza, H5N1 can cause severe disease in humans.
Birth Rate The average annual number of births during a year divided by the population at midyear. It is expressed per 1,000 population.
Body Mass Index (BMI) An index of weight-for-height used to classify overweight and obesity. It is defined as the weight of any individual in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/meters squared).
Child Health
 Refers to the healthy growth and development of children, usually between birth and five years of age.

Child orphaned by AIDS (also: AIDS orphan)

Any child under the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents due to AIDS (not including children who are estimated to have already died from AIDS or other causes).
Community Health Workers (CHW)
 Individuals who are trained to carry out one or more functions related to health care. They are supported by the health system but are not necessarily a part of its organization, and have less training than professional workers. CHWs are usually members of the communities where they work. They are usually selected by the communities and are answerable to the communities for their activities. CHWs include traditional medicine practitioners, faith healers, assistant/community health education workers, community health officers, family health workers, lady health visitors, health extension package workers, community midwives, institution-based personal care workers, and traditional birth attendants.
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate The percentage of women of reproductive age who are using (or whose partner is using) a contraceptive method at a given point in time. It is usually measured for married women or women living with a partner aged 15–49.
Death Rate The average annual number of deaths during a year divided by the population at midyear (also known as crude death rate). It is expressed per 1,000 population.
Diphtheria A bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, transmitted from person to person through close physical and respiratory contact. It can cause infection of the nasopharynx, which may lead to difficulty breathing and death. Diphtheria is preventable by vaccine.

DOTS

Directly observed treatment, short-course, is the internationally recommended strategy to control tuberculosis (TB). DOTS programs provide an indication of the effectiveness of national TB programs in finding and diagnosing people with TB.

DOTS Detection Rate for Smear Positives

The ratio of annual new smear-positive notifications under DOTS to estimated annual new smear-positive incidence in the country/area.
DOTS Treatment Success The percentage of new smear-positive patients that are cured (negative on sputum smear examination), plus the percentage that complete a course of treatment, without bacteriological confirmation of cure. Treatment success is an indicator of the performance of national DOTS tuberculosis (TB) control programs. In addition to the obvious benefit to individual patients, successful treatment of infectious cases of TB is essential to prevent the spread of the infection. Detecting and successfully treating a large proportion of TB cases should have an immediate impact on TB prevalence and mortality. By reducing transmission, successfully treating the majority of cases will also reduce the incidence of disease.

DTP3

Third dose of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine. Coverage with three doses of DTP vaccine is generally used as a proxy for a fully immunized child. DTP coverage is also an indicator of health system performance.

Endemic

Having a constant measurable incidence both of cases and of natural transmission in an area over a succession of years.

Epidemic

The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time.
External Debt Debt owed to nonresidents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services. It is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of International Monetary Fund credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt.
External Resources for Health Includes all grants and loans whether passing through governments or private entities for health goods and services, in cash or in kind.
Family Planning The ability of families or persons to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility. A woman's ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy.
Feed the Future
 The President’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative (Feed the Future) works to reduce malnutrition, hunger, and food insecurity through the use of a comprehensive approach, investing in country-led plans, strengthening coordination, leveraging multilateral institutions, and delivering a sustained commitment.  Countries are selected based on the prevalence of chronic hunger, potential for rapid and sustainable agricultural-led growth, political will, and opportunities for regional synergies.
Financial Development Assistance for Health
 Financial (gross disbursements on health and concessionary loans) contributions made by channels of development assistance to improve health in developing countries. It includes all disease-specific contributions as well as general health sector support, and excludes support for allied sectors.
General Government Expenditure Includes consolidated direct outlays and indirect outlays (e.g., subsidies to producers, transfers to households), including capital of all levels of government, social security institutions, autonomous bodies, and other extrabudgetary funds.
General Government Expenditure on Health The sum of outlays by government entities to purchase health care services and goods. It comprises the outlays on health by all levels of government, social security agencies, and direct expenditure by parastatals and public firms. Besides domestic funds, it also includes external resources (mainly as grants passing through the government or loans channeled through the national budget).
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) An independent, public-private partnership, formally launched in 2001. Its primary objectives are to raise new resources to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by issuing grants to countries with the greatest need, in support of prevention, care, and treatment programs.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year.
Gross National Income (GNI) The sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income from abroad.
H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) A contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs (a type of swine) caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses (most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes - like H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2 - also circulate in pigs). Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against these viruses, as outbreaks among pigs are known to have occurred in several countries around the world. Until recently, transmission to humans was occasionally reported. In early 2009, several cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) were reported, the first of which occurred in Mexico, followed by several other countries, including the U.S. Confirmed deaths due to the disease have also been reported. Clinical presentation of swine influenza infection in humans resembles seasonal influenza and other acute upper respiratory tract infections but presentation of the disease can also range broadly from showing no symptoms of infection to severe pneumonia resulting in death. A novel vaccine for H1N1 Influenza is currently under development and is expected to be available in the fall of 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and there are other basic preventive measures that can also be taken.
Health Expenditure Per Capita (PPP; International $)
 The sum of public and private health expenditure (in PPP, International $) divided by population. Health expenditure includes the provision of health services, family planning activities, nutrition activities and emergency aid designated for heath, but excludes the provision of water and sanitation.
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
 In 1996, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative, which established an agreement among all the major international creditors to provide debt relief to the world's poorest and most heavily indebted countries, and thereby reduce the constraint on economic growth and poverty reduction imposed by the debt build-up in these countries. To be eligible for the HIPC Debt Initiative, countries must meet specified criteria.
High Burden Countries (HBCs), TB Twenty-two countries, most of which are in Africa and South-East Asia, that account for much of the world's TB burden (approximately 80% of new TB cases each year). HBCs are determined by the World Health Organization.

HIV

 Human immunodeficiency virus, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV can be transmitted through infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, and during pregnancy or delivery. HIV destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ T cells. These cells are critical to the normal function of the human immune system, which defends the body against illness. When HIV weakens the immune system, a person is more susceptible to developing a variety of cancers and becoming infected with viruses, bacteria and parasites. The disease has four stages: primary or acute HIV infection, asymptomatic, symptomatic, and advanced HIV disease (AIDS).

HIV/AIDS Prevalence

Number of people estimated to be living with HIV, at any disease stage, including AIDS

HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate

Percent of people estimated to be living with HIV, at any disease stage, including AIDS. Usually presented as percent of adult population (ages 15-49) estimated to be HIV positive. When actual surveillance data are not available, the prevalence rate is usually estimated based on HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics.
Hospital Beds Includes inpatient and maternity beds (excludes cots and delivery beds).

Incidence

The number of new events, such as new cases of a disease, occurring over a specific period of time. It is often expressed as a rate, for example the number of cases per 100,000 population.
Infant Mortality Rate The number of infant deaths in a given year divided by the number of live births in the same year. It is expressed per 1,000 live births. Infants are defined as less than one year of age.
Life Expectancy at Birth The average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply.
Low Birthweight Babies Newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams, with the measurement taken within the first hours of life, before significant postnatal weight loss has occurred.

Malaria

 

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. Symptoms of infection may include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, the disease can be life threatening.
Maternal Health The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Maternal Mortality Ratio The annual number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births.
MCV Measles-containing vaccine.
Measles A highly communicable and deadly viral disease caused by the measles virus, a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the family paramyxoviridae. The disease is typically spread via droplets or direct contact with the nasal or throat secretions of those infected. Measles is on the most readily communicable and deadly childhood rash/fever illnesses. Measles is preventable by vaccine.
Median Age The age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population.
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Administers the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a United States government initiative which provides development assistance to eligible countries. The MCC is a government corporation with a Board of Directors, and is chaired by the Secretary of State.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Diseases that occur in the tropics or hot humid areas, and are concentrated almost exclusively in impoverished populations, living in remote, rural areas, urban slums, or conflict zones in the developing world.
Nurses Includes professional nurses, auxiliary nurses, enrolled nurses and other nurses, such as dental nurses and primary care nurses. Midwives: includes professional midwives, auxiliary midwives and enrolled midwives. Traditional birth attendants are not included in this category and are counted as community health workers by WHO.
Nutrition The intake of food or nourishment, generally considered in relation to the body’s dietary needs.  Good nutrition implies an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity.  Poor nutrition can lead to reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, and reduced productivity.
Obesity An abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that may impair health. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/meters squared or more are considered obese.
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure on Health The direct outlays of households, including gratuities and in-kind payments made to health practitioners and to suppliers of pharmaceuticals, therapeutic appliances and other goods and services. This includes household direct payments to public and private providers of health care services, non-profit institutions, and non-reimbursable cost sharing, such as deductibles, copayments and fees for services.
Overweight Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/meters squared or more.
Physicians Includes generalists and specialists.
POL3 Third dose of polio vaccine. The vaccine is given multiple times to children under five to ensure full immunization.
Poliomyelitis (Polio) A crippling disease caused by any one of three related viruses; poliovirus types 1, 2 or 3. Polio is transmitted solely through fecal and oral routes and enters the body through the mouth when people eat food or drink water contaminated with excreta. The virus is easily spread in areas with poor hygiene. Polio is preventable by vaccine.
Population Below $1.25 a Day A measure of extreme poverty. The share of the population living on less than $1.25 a day at 2005 international prices.
Population Growth Rate The average annual percent change in the population resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative.
Population With Sustainable Access to an Improved Water Source
 The percentage of the population with sustainable access to an improved water source (household connections, public standpipes, boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs and rainwater collection). Unimproved sources include vendors, bottled water, tanker trucks, and unprotected wells and springs.
Population With Sustainable Access to Improved Sanitation The percentage of the population with access to adequate excreta disposal facilities, such as a connection to a sewer or septic tank system, a pour-flush latrine, a simple pit latrine or a ventilated improved pit latrine. An excreta disposal system is considered adequate if it is private or shared (but not public) and if it can effectively prevent human, animal and insect contact with excreta.
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) The U.S. government's initiative, first introduced in 2003, to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries. Led by the State Department Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, PEPFAR targets significant bilateral aid to a number of countries. It also includes funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. PEPFAR was originally authorized for five years (FY 2004 to FY 2008) by the U.S. Congress under the ''United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003'' (Public Law No: 108-25). PEPFAR was reauthorized in 2008 for another five years (FY 2009 to FY 2013) as the ''Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008''. PEPFAR is a central component of the U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six year initiative (FY 2009 to FY 2014) announced by President Obama in 2009, to develop a comprehensive strategy for U.S government global health efforts.
President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) The U.S. government's initiative, launched in 2005, to fight malaria in the region most affected by the disease - Africa. The PMI is an interagency initiative led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initiative's goal is to reduce malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in 17 focus countries. PMI is a component of the U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six year initiative (FY 2009 to FY 2014) announced by President Obama in 2009, to develop a comprehensive strategy for U.S government global health efforts.

Prevalence

The number or proportion of events, such as cases of a disease, within a population at a specific point in time, e.g., the proportion of a population living with a disease.
Prevalence of Child Malnutrition The percentage of children under age five whose weight for age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median.
Private Expenditure on Health The sum of expenditures on health by prepaid plans and risk-pooling arrangements, firms' expenditure on health, non-profit institutions serving mainly households, and household out-of-pocket spending.
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) A comparison of economies based on standardized international dollar price weights, rather than official currency exchange rates.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) A viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARSCoV is believed to be an animal virus that crossed the species barrier to humans recently when ecological changes or changes in human behavior increased opportunities for human exposure to the virus and virus adaptation, enabling human-to-human transmission. It is believed to be transmitted by close person-to-person contact (defined as having cared for or lived with a person known to have SARS or having a high likelihood of direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a patient known to have SARS).
Skilled Birth Attendant An accredited health professional – such as a midwife, doctor or nurse – who has been educated and trained to proficiency in the skills needed to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complications in women and newborns. Traditional birth attendants, trained or not, are excluded from the category of skilled attendant.

Smear Positive Case

The presence of TB bacteria in a patient's sputum (sample of mucus or phlegm from a patient's respiratory tract) when examined under the microscope.
Smoking Prevalence The percentage of people who smoke cigarettes.
Social Security Expenditure on Health Includes outlays for purchases of health goods and services by schemes that are mandatory and controlled by government. Such social security schemes that apply only to a selected group of the population, such as public sector employees only, are also included.
Total Expenditure on Health The sum of general government health expenditures and private health expenditures in a given year, calculated in national currency units in current prices.
Total Fertility Rate The average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in a country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total population numbers. Rates above two children per woman indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Rates below two children per woman indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older.

Tuberculosis (TB)

A bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease usually affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body in serious cases. An individual can become infected with TB when another person who has active TB coughs, sneezes, or spits. Not all people who become infected with TB will develop symptoms. Those who do not become ill are referred to as having latent TB and cannot spread the disease to others.

UNAIDS/Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

 

Part of the United Nations system, the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive, and coordinated global action on the epidemic.  UNAIDS' mission is to lead, strengthen, and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.  It brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system co-sponsors.
Under-Five Mortality Rate The probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before reaching the age of five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of that period. It is expressed per 1,000 live births.
Undernourished Population Individuals whose food intake is chronically insufficient to meet their minimum energy requirements.
Unemployment Rate Percent of the labor force without a job.
Urban Population Percentage of the total population living in areas termed "urban" by that country. Typically, the population living in towns of 2,000 or more or in national and provincial capitals is classified "urban."
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) An independent U.S. federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. USAID's role is to support long-term and equitable economic growth in countries and advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting: economic growth, agriculture and trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. The agency focuses its support in five regions of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe and Eurasia; and The Middle East.
U.S. Global Health Initiative The Global Health Initiative (GHI), launched by the Obama Administration in May 2009, was proposed as a six-year, $63 billion effort by the United States government to coordinate most of its global health activities under one umbrella. The GHI builds upon existing U.S. programs and expands work in other areas, focusing on improving health outcomes in the areas of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, maternal health and, child health, nutrition, and family planning and reproductive health, as well as strengthening underlying health systems.
Vitamin A An essential nutrient for the proper functioning of the immune system and the healthy growth and development of children. Insufficient intake of vitamin A in children can dramatically increase the risk of death, blindness, and illness, especially from measles and diarrhea.
Vitamin A Supplementation (Full Coverage) The percentage of children reached with two doses of vitamin A supplementation.

WHO/ World Health Organization

 

The United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly
Yellow Fever (YF) A viral fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The disease is caused by the yellow fever virus, which belongs to the flavivirus group. Infection causes a wide spectrum of disease, from mild symptoms (e.g., fever, muscle pain, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, nausea and/or vomiting) to severe illness (e.g., bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach; bleeding can be found in vomit and excreta) and death. The "yellow" in the name is explained by the jaundice that affects some patients. An effective vaccine for yellow fever has been available for several decades, but the number of people infected has increased in recent years.